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⏰ GS1 Sunrise 2027
By end of 2027, every global retailer must support 2D barcodes at point-of-sale. Every product on shelf needs a GS1 Digital Link QR code. ProtectCode customers are Sunrise 2027 ready from day one.
Sunrise 2027 timeline
All global retailers must support 2D barcodes at POS. GS1 mandate.
Brands deploying GS1 Digital Link now are building consumer data ahead of the deadline.
Full GS1 Digital Link compliance across all ProtectCode tiers. Retail POS and consumer engagement from one code. Ready today.
GS1, the global organisation that manages barcodes, has mandated that all retailers worldwide must be capable of reading 2D barcodes at point-of-sale by end of 2027. This is called the GS1 Sunrise 2027 initiative.
The 1D barcode that has been on packaging since the 1970s can only encode a GTIN - a product identifier. A GS1 Digital Link QR code encodes the same GTIN in a format that also works at retail POS, opens a consumer experience on smartphones, and carries supply chain data.
Brands that wait until 2027 to deploy GS1 Digital Link will face a reprint deadline with no consumer data history. Brands deploying now accumulate two years of consumer scan data, supply chain intelligence, and first-party consumer relationships before the transition becomes mandatory.
ProtectCode is a GS1 Associate Alliance Partner. Full GS1 Digital Link compliance is included across all ProtectCode tiers at no additional cost.
The transition
The GS1 Sunrise 2027 transition affects every product on retail shelves globally. Here is what brand owners and manufacturers need to understand.
Retail POS scanners
All global retailer POS systems must support 2D barcode scanning by end of 2027. The same QR code that works for consumer engagement also scans at checkout.
Consumer experience
The QR code opens a consumer experience when scanned with a smartphone. Product information, provenance, campaigns, and authentication - all from the GS1 Digital Link.
Supply chain data
GS1 Digital Link QR codes carry supply chain data alongside the GTIN. One code replaces the traditional barcode and multiple separate labels.
No change to packaging design
The GS1 Digital Link QR code sits where the traditional barcode was. No significant packaging redesign required for the transition.
The window is now
Brands deploying GS1 Digital Link in 2025 and 2026 accumulate consumer data and supply chain intelligence before competitors who wait for the 2027 mandate.
DPP alignment
EU Digital Product Passport requirements align with GS1 Digital Link infrastructure. ProtectCode is DPP-ready - compliant when delegated acts land.
GS1 Sunrise 2027 is the GS1-mandated transition from 1D barcodes to 2D barcodes at retail point-of-sale. By end of 2027, all global retailers must be capable of reading 2D barcodes at checkout. This means every product on retail shelves globally needs a GS1 Digital Link QR code that encodes the product GTIN in a 2D format.
Eventually, yes. The GS1 Sunrise 2027 mandate means the traditional 1D barcode will be replaced by GS1 Digital Link QR codes on all retail products globally. Brands deploying now are making a packaging update they will have to make regardless - and generating commercial value from it in the meantime.
Yes. ProtectCode is a GS1 Associate Alliance Partner. Full GS1 Digital Link compliance is included across all ProtectCode tiers at no additional cost. Every ProtectCode customer is Sunrise 2027 ready from their first print run.
Brands deploying in 2025 and 2026 accumulate consumer scan data, supply chain intelligence, and first-party consumer data before the transition becomes mandatory. Brands that wait until 2027 face a reprint deadline with no consumer data history and no competitive advantage from early deployment.
Our team will walk through exactly what GS1 Sunrise 2027 means for your product category and how ProtectCode makes the transition straightforward.
Connected packaging.
First-party data.
Supply chain intelligence.